Saturday, February 12, 2011

Revelation Bible Study 4

REVELATIONBible Study FourDescription of Jesus Church at Ephesus

Revelation is the documentary of Jesus Christ coming to take rulership of the earth.

It is the story of Jesus in relationship to the church.His appointment by the father.His campaign against the attending forces of evilJesus final victory.The establishment of God’s eternal kingdom on earth.

I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, and, what you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. Revelation 1:9 - 11

Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lamp stands, and in the midst of the seven lamp stands one like the son of man, closed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow and his eyes like a flame of fire; his feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and his voice as the sound of many waters; he had in his right hand seven stars, out of his mouth when a sharp to edged sword, and his countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. Revelation 1:12 - 17

1. Seven Golden lamp stands. Verse 20 gives us the answer to the identity of the seven lamp stands. They are the seven churches.2. Seven stars: again in verse 20 we find the answer to the identity of the seven stars. They are the Angels of the seven churches.3. Jesus is standing in the middle of his churches.4. Out of Jesus mouth went a sharp two edged sword.5. There follows a description of Jesus:

There is a countenance or and aura around Jesus that is as bright as the sun shining in its strength. He is close to an a garment which is long, all the way to his feet. He has a golden girdle around his midsection. His head and hair are like wool, white as snow. His eyes are like a flame of fire and his feet like burned fine brass as if they were burned in a furnace. Finally his voice is like the sound of many waters. John Saul Jesus as Yeh Hey Vay Hey the Lord himself. The Jews call him the Lord is one. John sees Jesus in his role as the eternal one the creator. Notice that John is in the spirit.

Exodus 33:20 but he said, you cannot see my face: for no man shall see me, and live. And the Lord said here is a place by me, and you shall stand all the rock. So it shall be, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand while I passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not the seen.

John had access to see Jesus as God because he had a covering, his name is Jesus. You cannot see God unless you have Jesus Christ.Moses had this experienceEzekiel had this experienceDaniel had this experience

When you look at Jesus: he is the fulfillment of the principles of God

We see protection awarded to the Saints of God throughout the Bible:NoahIsraelitesDanielMosesShadrach, Meeshak and Nabendigo

When we examine the passage in Exodus; we come to realize that Jesus is the hand of God. God said I will put my hand before your eyes as I pass by. And when I have passed by I will remove my hand so that you may see my backside.

John’s reaction was the same as Abraham, Daniel, Ezekiel and others. He fell at Jesus feet as if he were dead.

The description of Jesus in this passage of revelation 1:14 - 15 are carried forth throughout the book of Revelation.

The description of Jesus lets us know that he sees and hears all. He speaks to each of the churches with a description of himself that applies to their circumstances.

Never forget Jesus is about the work of purifying the Saints and making the way ready for the establishment of his rule upon the earth. We are the ark meant to carry the principles of God, the Torah.

It is important to know the character of Jesus and what he looks like spiritually. It is also important to know what the spirit of the antichrist looks like.

We see an accurate picture of Jesus Christ in Revelation 19:11 – 16

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called faithful and true, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed him on white horses. Now out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he had on his robe and on his thigh a name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Jesus is the beginning and the end.Consider Genesis 1:1, John 1:1 – 4, and Isaiah 46:9 – 11Jesus is the ”EHT” , the Aleph and the TavJesus is the creative power of GodHe is ADONIA creative power injected did into you

He has shown us his characterHe is the loving father:1. He rebukes his children because it is not good for us to remain in Sin.2. He delivers and restores us.3. He will be in us and with us – a sustaining power.

Vic Reasoner: “there is nothing in Revelation to frighten the followers of Jesus, but plenty to empower us. We are victors. Jesus Christ cannot be stopped, we are blessed.”

He is Elohim - The power which cannot be stoppedHe is Adonai - The righteous force of God that forces Himself into submissive believers and overcomes the power of the enemy in us

Satan may claim authority over this Earth, but the legality of who owns this world was settled at the cross. The cross is where it all happened. Jesus action on the cross started the kingdom forcing itself into the world and it‘s rolling like a steamroller.

Revelation 1:4 Grace be unto you. Shalom

John 16:13However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak; and he will tell you things to come. He will glorify me, for he will take of what is mine and declare it unto you. All things that the father has are mine. Therefore I said that he will take of mine and declare it to you.

Notice that God speaks to the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit speaks what he hears to us.

God speaks his principles to the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit speaks his principles to us.

The Holy Spirit comes to those who love Jesus Christ and who are submissive to the word of the Lord, obeying His principles (Commands).

Now, this Jesus Christ whose eyes are like a flame of fire spoke through the Holy Spirit to John, a book, given to the seven churches of Asia, which represent all churches in all times.

Revelation 2:1To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars, and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for my namesake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you. That you have left first love. Remember therefore from where you have followed: repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place – unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolatians, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to the from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Here is an apostasy: this church has left its first love. It has left the faith.

The first church, Ephesus, and the last church Laodicea, are guilty of apostasy. They have left the faith. Ephesus is doing many things right. Let’s review the things they are doing right:

They have lots of works.They are not afraid of hard work.They have patience.They do not tolerate those who claim to be apostles but are not. They have tested the spirits of those around them.They have labored long and hard for the sake of Jesus Christ without becoming weary.They hate the deeds of the Nickolations which God also hates.

We’ll go over the things they did right. But the message is: You can do many things right and be totally wrong. This church has left the love of Jesus Christ. And he is saying to them come back to the days you obeyed me because you loved me.They’ve gotten caught up in work and in legalism. They have forgotten where they were when Jesus found them and saved them and loved them without hesitation.They have failed to remember the most important thing is love and compassion for the Lord Jesus Christ

About Me

Frank Smith has been preaching the gospel since 1992 when he had a Damascus Road Experience with the Lord. Since that time God's signs and wonders have followed this ministry. He was joined by his beautiful wife Doris in 2006 and their ministry continues to grow through many trials and tribulations. This ministry has grown and matured under the Masters guidance. We have been given insight through a Hebrew perspective which brings a greater understanding of the word, how to live our lives and the power of God's eternal plan for those who love Him. God is faithful to those who love Him and dwell on His word!